Walter S. Mossberg answers readers' questions about technology

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Walter S. Mossberg

Updated Feb. 20, 2013 12:01 a.m. ET

Q: In Windows 8, what is the relationship between desktop mode and the start-screen mode with the new user interface? I find it confusing that, when opening a picture, it goes to the picture app in the start screen instead of opening in the regular Windows photo viewer. The same goes for videos.

A: I believe Microsoft sees the tabletlike start screen experience in Windows 8 as the future of Windows, the beginning of a long...